Gauging apparatus



Jan. 11, 1944. E. R. OWENS GAUGING APPARATUS Filed Mar ch- 4f l942 9.sheets-Shea 1 INVENTOR Elliott R. Owens,

ATToRN y M m o I, O O o 0 WM 7 1 O O O i MWHPW M v A. In a E, R. OWENSGAUG ING APPARATUS F iled March 4, 1942 9 Sheets-Shag: 2

IN,\/ENTOR Elliott R. Owens,

Jan. 11, 1944.

Jan. 11, 1944. E R, OWENS 2,338,868

GAUG ING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 19 42 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Elliott ROwens,

ATTORN S Jan. 11, 1944. E, OWENS GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1942 9Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Elliott. R. Owens,

ATTO EYS Jan. 11, 1944. R OWENS GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1942 9Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Z'Zlzott R. Owens,

ATTORNEES Jan. 11, R OWENS GAUGING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 FiledMarch f1, 1942 INVENTOR R. Owens,

ATTORN Jan. 11, 1944. E. R. OWENS 2,333,863

GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORL'Zlz'olb R, O

W 7 ATTORN YS w W \W 11, 4- E. R OWENS GAUQING APPARATUS Filed March 4,1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FQL INVENTOR Elliott R. Owens ATTORN YS Jan. 11,1944., E. R. OWENS 2,338,868

GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1942 9 SheetsSheet 9 v 64/ ig 5 11.5FF:

v II- I if; 1

126' 1/0! iza I EJE'CTOR [L H m T RESET RELIY g. j OPEN GAUG/NG [33FINGERS 165 i l Gnuaz/va CYCLE;

66' 4 7i 7 INVENTOR 6 5 Elliott '12. Owens,

ATTOR vs 7,

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAUGIN G APPARATUSElliott R. Owens, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Owens-Illinois PacificCoast Company, a corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1942,Serial No. 433,353

Claims.

to glass jars or the like by automatic machinery require accuracy in thesize and shape of the sealins surfaces in orderto insure perfect seals.If the diameter of the sealing surface is greater or less than theprescribed diameter or the sealing surface is not perfectly round, thearticle must be discarded. An object of the present invention is toprovide gauging apparatus which operates automatically to gauge articlesin. rapid succession and which at the same time is accurate and reliablein its operation and automatically discards defective articles. a Y

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a part-sectional elevation of gauging mechanism constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the upper por tion of the machine ona larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a section plan at the line l-i on' Fig. 3. Fig; 5 is a sectionat the line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section at the line 8-8 on Fig.3.

1 Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation of a gauging head or unit.

Fig. 8 is a section at the line 8-4 on Fig. '7.

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 aresections taken respectively at the lines 9-9,ill-Hi and llil on Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a section at the line I2-l2 on Fig. 2 showing anelectromagnetic ejector mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing a modification embodying anair operated ejector.-

Fig. 14 is a cam chart illustrating the sequence of operations.

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram for a gauging head and the electricalcontrols;

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the machine comprises a base IS on legs I1and supporting a stationary center column or post IS, the latter made insections including a lower tubular section and a solid upper sectionsecured thereto. Mounted for continuous rotation about the axis of thecenter post I9 is a carriage comprising an fez-red to and from'thegauging machine By paratus shown in Fig. 2, including an electric upperhorizontal plate or platform 22 and a lower plate or casting 2i whichprovides a cover for the gear casing i6 formed on the base It. The

plate 2i is attached to a tubular shaft 23 and the platform 22 isconnected by a flanged collar 24 to a tubular shaft 25 which telescopeswith the shaft 23 and is adjustable up and down thereon by means ofadjusting bolts 28 threaded through a collar 21 which provides a supportfor the lower end of the shaft 25. Ball bearings 2| are interposedbetween the collar 24 and a sleeve 2! having a fixed, mounting on thestationary center column is. Thecarriage is rotated by an electric motorM (Fig. 2) having driving connections with the shaft 23 through wormgearing 30.

The apparatus is herein shown (see .Fig. 7) as operating to gauge theperipheries 3| of the neck ends or finishes of thejars 32, althoughadaptable for gauging other articles. The jars ar transmotor 33 whichdrives an endless belt conveyor 34 on which the jars are placed and bywhich they are advanced to a star wheel 35 which transfers them tolifting pads 36 (Figs. 1 and 4) by which they are lifted to gaugingposition and on which they are supported during the gauging operations.The jars are transferred from theliftin: pads to a second horizontalconveyor-31' by meam of a star wheel 3|. The Jars are guided duringtheir transfer to and from the carriage by stationary guide rails 39 andI0, and an intermediate guide plate 4|. Th star wheels are secured tothe upper ends of verticalshafts 42 Joni-nailed for rotation in themachine base and driven by gears 43 keyed to said shafts and meshingwith a gear 44 fixed to the carriage shaft.

The pads 36 on which the Jars are supported for the gauging operationsare in the form of disks journalled to rotate freely on lifting frames45 attached to lifting. rods 46 by means of which the Jars are liftedinto enflasement with the sealing heads or units ll suspended from theupper -plat- .form 22. The rods 46 are iournalled in bearings 4-(Fig. 1) on the carriage and the up and down movements of the rods andparts carried thereby are controlled by a stationary cam track 48 onwhich run cam follower rolls 49 connected to the rods. The holding pads36 are provided with disks ll of rubber or the like for frictionallyholding the jars and insuring their rotation with the pads. The rotationof the jars during the gauging operation is effected by means of anarc-shaped shoe 52 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) having a facing of rubber or otherfriction driving material presenting a other two gaugin "positioned overthe arms 04 contact'surface concentric with the carriage and arranged toengage the flanged peripheries of the pads 36. The shoe 52 i adjustablymounted on a stationary supporting bar 53 which in turn is mounted onthe machine base.

The gauging units 41 (see Figs. '1 to 11) are all of the sameconstruction. Each unit comprises a main casting 54 in the form of aplate mounted on a base 55. A cylindrical casing 55 removably attachedto the base provides a housing for the gauging mechanism. The under sideof the base is recessed to receive the upper end of the article to begauged, the walls 56 bein tapered or frusto-conical for guiding theworkpiece into central position when lifted by the pad 38. A pluralityof gauging fingers herein shown as four in number, are mounted inposition to contact the surface 3| which is to be gauged. Each gaugingfin er includes a conical guiding piece 50 and a roll or bearing disk 60for rolling contact with the surface to be gauged.

Two of the gauging finger have a fixed mounting in the casting M bymeans of stems CI. The

fingers are mounted for swinging movement toward and from thework-piece. For this purpose they are mounted to swing about pivot pins02 which are anchored in blocks 03 which may be formed on the casting04. Each of the swinging fingers has attached to its upper end anelectrical contact arm 84 extending horizontally and provided at itsfree end with a contact head 85 positioned between upper and lowerelectrical contact arms in the form of leaf springs 60 and 01' mountedon the casting II and electrically insulated therefrom. The upper spring88 normally rests on a stop 60 of insulating material on the upper endof an adjustable rod 89. The lower spring 61 normally bears upwardlyagainst and its upward movement is limited by an adjustable stop post10.

Mounted within the casing 65 is an electromagnet H which may be anchoredto a bracket 12 formed on the main casting 54. The electromagnetincludes a vertically movable core, to

the lower end of which is attached a block 13 and adapted when loweredto swing said arms about the pivots 02 and thereby spread the contactfingers out of the path of the work-piece while the latter is moved intogauging position. A coil tension spring 14 (Fig. is attached to one endof a lever arm 15 fulcrumed at 10 on the bracket 12, the other end ofthe arm being in engagement with the head 13 and holding the latter inits lowered position while the electromagnet is deenergized.

. When a Jar has been moved up to gauging position a circuit isestablished for the electromagnet as hereinafter described so that themagnet is energized and lifts the head 13, thereby releasing the arms84. Coil compression springs 11 (Fig. 7) now operate through rods 18 toswin the gauging fingers into contact with the workpiece. If the surfaceto be gauged is of the prescribed diameter, the arms 04 are held in anintermediate position with the heads 65 out of contact with the arms 65and 61. If the diameter of the work-piece is below the required gauge,the springs 11 will lift the contacts 65 into engagement with thecontact arms 66. If

the diameter of the work-piece is greater than the required gauge, thecontact heads 65 are lowered and make contact with the arms 61. Ineither event the article will later be discarded by an ejector mechanismnow to be described.

Referring to Fig. 12, the ejector comprises a vertically disposed armconnected by a pivot 8I to a supporting frame 82 or bracket which issecured by bolts 83 to the conveyor frame. An electromagnet 84 ismounted within a housing 84 on the frame 82 and its armature 85 has aslot and pin connection with the upper end of the arm 80. The magnetcoil when energized draws the armature inwardly, thereby operating thearm 80 and causing it to push the jar 32 off the conveyor 31 onto aninclined chute 81. The jar moves by gravity down the chute to a conveyor88 (Fig. 2). A leaf spring 89 (Fig. 12) serves as a buffer to absorb theshock of the magnet core when the magnet is energized. When the magnetis deenergized, a coil spring 90 returns the core. A stop 0| limits thereturn movement of the arm 00.

Fig. 13 illustrates a modified form of ejector mechanism comprising apiston motor operated by air or other fluid. The motor includes acylinder 92, a piston 03 and a piston rod 90, extended to form anejector rod. Air under pres-. sure for operating the motor is suppliedthrough a pressure pipe 05 under the control of a valve 06. The lattercomprises a valve plunger 91 connected to the core 00 of a solenoidelectromagnet 99 which may be connected up in the control circuits inthe same manner as the electromagnet 84 (Figs. 12 and 15). The electorrod 04 is slidable in a bearing block I00 which is mounted on a bracketIII and provides a support for the piston motor. while the electromagnetremains deenergized the valve plunger 91 remains in the position shownwhich admits air pressure to the left of the motor piston and holds theelector plunger in its retracted position. The air pressure is suppliedthrough a pipe I02 to the valve and from the valve through a pipe I02which opens hro h a port I04 into the motor cylinder.

- of the valve plunger also cuts of! the pipe I03 from the pressure lineand opens it to atmosphere through an exhaust pipe I06. The motortherefore operates the elector plunger. When the electromagnet isdeenergized the valve plunger is returned, thereby causing a reversal ofthe piston motor. During the return movement of the motorpiston the airis exhausted through an exhaust pipe I01. Throttle valves I08 areprovided in the exhaust pipes and are adjustable for adjustablycontrolling the speed of the elector plunger.

Referring to Fig. 3, the gauging heads or units 41 are suspended beneaththe upper platform 22 in a manner to permit each head to move laterallyin any direction for centering it on the workpiece and at the same timepermitting it to retain its upright position. The means for suspendingit further permits a limited up and down movement so that the fullweight of the head may rest on the work-piece during the gaugingoperation. The method of suspension, moreover, is such that rotativemovement of the head about its vertical axis is prevented. The means forsuspending the head is in the form of a rod IIO having a universal jointconnection III with a connector block II2 attached to the under surfaceof the platform 22. The rod IIO has a second universal joint connectionII3 adjacent its lower end with the gauging head. It will be seen thatwith this construction the head may move freely horizontally orlaterally in any direcassasee tion which may be required to adjust itcentrally on the work-piece as the latter is lifted, the rod IIO takingan inclined direction while the head remains upright. The rod III! ismade in telescoping sections providing a slip joint permitting the headto be lifted a short distance determined by the slot and pin connectionH4. The platform 22 from which the gauging heads are suspended isadjusted vertically tosuch a position that each jar or work-piece whenlifted to ganging position by its cam will lift the gauging head a shortdistance and thereby transfer the full weight of the head to thework-piece and thus hold the latter with suillcient pressure against therubber disk 50 to prevent slippage during the gauging operation.- Asshown in Fig. 3, the heads 41 at the left-hand side of the center postare held in their lifted position while those at the right-hand side areshown in the lowered osition.

The electrical controlling mechanism by which the gauging heads arecaused to operate in succession includes a series of collector rings H(Figs. 3 and 6) carried on collars II. of insulating material, saidcollars having a fixed mounting on the stationary sleeve 29. Electricalcontact pieces I" are mounted in tubular connectinfi rods H8 and arespring-held against the rings H5. The rods -I it are mounted in aninsulating block IIB supported on posts I20 fixed to the platform, 22for rotation with the carriage. A series of stationary'cams I, 2, 2 and4, mounted on the sleeve 29 and each rotatively adjustable thereon,operate electrical switches which control the gauging operations. Thecams I 2, 2 and 4 serve to operate in succession sets of switchesindividual to the gauging units. Each said unit has associated therewithsuch a set or switches I, 2*, 3 and 4 operated respectively by the camsI, 2, 3 and 4. Micro-switches may be employed, each comprising a camoperated switch lever and switch contact mechanism within a switch boxI".

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of the control system for one gauging unit.Each unit is provided with a separate control system such as shown inFig. 15 except that a single solenoid which operates the ejectormechanism serves for all of the gauging units. Alternating current maybe supplied from any suitable source through mains I24 and I25. Astep-down transformer has its primary winding I26 connected across themains and its secondary i2! connected in circuit with a relay solenoidi28 which operates a contact I29 in circuit with the ejector magnet 84,

and a contact I30 in a holding circuit for the relay.

The sequence of operations 01' the electrical control devices is asfollows: While there is no jar 32 in gauging position in the head 41,the solenoid II which operates the gauging fingers remains deenergize'dwith the fingers spread to open position. As soon as a jar has beenlifted to the gauging head and commences to rotate, the cam 3 closes thenormally open switch 3", thus establishing a circuit for the magnet coilII' and causing it to lift its armature and thus permit the gaugingfingers to move to operative position. The coil II is connected incircuit with an auto transformer I3I which is connected across the mainsI24, I25. y

As soon as the gauging fingers close on the jar, with the revolving jarproperly centered on the lifting pad, the cam 4 closes the switch 4in'circuit with the gauging contacts 65, 61 and the relay solenoid I 28.This circuit may be traced from the right-hand side of the transformercoil I21 through relay coil I28, normally closed'switch 2*, wires I22,I33, to contact 65 and thence through contact I58 or 61, wire I34,switch 5* and.

wire I35 to the other terminal of the transformer 1 coil. This circuitremains open at the gauging contact 65 if the jar is of correct gauge.If the Jar is not of correct gauge or out-of-round, the

contact is moved to close the circuit, thereby energizing the relay andcausing it to move the contacts I29 and I30 to closed positions. Thecontact ISII establishes a holding circuit for the relay independent ofthe gauging contact I.

The cam 4 holds the switch 4' closed while the jar makes approximatelyone complete rotation about the axis of its supporting pad, althoughthis may be varied by changing the length of the cam lace. When the cam4 runs of! its switch the latter opens the gauging circuit andterminates the gauging operation. this and before the lifting frame 45commences its downward movement, the cam 2 releases the switch 3' andopens the circuit of electromagnet.

coil II so that the armature I2 (P18. 10) is lowered. This releases thegauging fingers from the jar so that they will not offer any resistanceto the lowering of the jar.

when the Jar has thus been released. it is lowcred from the gauging headand then transferred mm the gauging machine to the conveyor 21. When itreaches a position in line with the elec- 1 tor. the cam I closes theswitch I in the circuit of the ejector solenoid 84. If the relay hasbeen energized through the operation of a jar out-of gauge, then theclosing of the switch I completes the circuit for the ejector magnet,causing the jar to be ejected Ii, on the other hand, the Jar is withinthe gauge requirements so that the relay magnet I28 has not beenenergized, the circuit for the ejector magnet remains open at contactI29 and the ejector remains inactive, permitting the jar to remain onthe conveyor 21.

' After the ejector cam -I has operated, the cam 2 momentarily opens theswitch 2am the relay circuit and thereby effects the opening oi. therelay contacts I29, I20, thus resetting the relay for another cycle.This takes place before the next Jar is gauged.

Fig. 14 illustrates diagrammatically the sefrom position b to c, the jaris lifted to the grub ing head. The Jar and head then travel idly fromposition 0 to position e. At position d the shoe 52 engages the holdingpad and commences rotation of the Jar about its axis, such rotationbeing continued until position'k is reached. The

are of, contact of the shoe 52 is indicated by broken line 52. When thepoint e is reached the cam 2 closes the switch 2* so that the solenoid'I I operates to lift its armature and release the gauging fingers asbefore described. The cam 2 holds its switch closeduntil position It isreached. At position I the cam I closes its switch and thereby causesthe ejector to discharge the jar at the ejector station providing saidjar is out of gauge and has accordingly set the relay I28 during thepreceding revolution of the carriage. The cam 2 Following operates atposition 9 to open the relay circuit and thereby reset the relay. At theposition 71. the cam 4 closes its switch and holds it closed during thegauging cycle which extends to position i. Shortly following this, atposition It, the cam I releases its switch so that the solenoid lloperates to release the gauging fingers. Between positions I and m thepad with the jar thereon is lowered, and between positions 1n and n thejar is transferred by the star wheel 38 to conveyor 31.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a support for an article to be gauged, a gaugingunit, means for moving said support relative to said unit and therebyoperatively positioning the article relative to said unit, said unitcomprising gauging fingers, conical guides and rolls on said fingerspositioned to engage opposite sides of a surface to be gauged and centerit with respect to said unit, means for causing a relative rotation ofsaid unit and article support, one of said fingers being pivotallymounted on the gauging unit, an electrical contact arm carried by saidfinger, means for holding said finger in contact with the surface to begauged. and electro-responsive indicating means, said contact arm beingarranged to close the circuit for said indicating means when saidsurface extends out side of predetermined gauge limits. I

2. Apparatus for gauging round surfaces of articles which comprises asupport for the articles, a gauging unit, means for relatively movingsaid support on said unit to bring anarticle into gauging relation tosaid unit, means for rotating the article relative to said unit, meansfor centering the article relative to its axis of .rotation, a gaugingfinger having pivotal mounting in said unit and positioned to contactthe surface to be gauged, a spring for holding said finger in contactwith said surface, electro-responsive means for indicatingan article outof gauge, means providing an electrical circuit for said indicatingmeans, a switch arm carried by said gauging fin ger and included in saidcircuit, an electrical contact in said circuit cooperating with saidswitch arm, and an electromagnet arranged to swing said gauging fingeraway from said article.

3. A gauging unit comprising a plurality of gauging fingerssymmetrically arranged about an axis in position to engage theperipheral surface of a round article to be gauged, said fingers beingvertically disposed and one of said fingers pivoted to-swing about ahorizontal axis to and from a gauging position in which it engages thesaid surface, and a spring for holding said swinging finger in contactwith the surface to be gauged, said gauging unit comprising anelectromagnet, said electromagnet being operative when deenergized toswing said finger away from said surface.

4. A gauging unit comprising a plurality of gauging fingerssymmetrically arranged about an axis in position to engage theperipheral surface of a round article to be gauged, said fingers beinvertically disposed and one of said fingers pivoted to swing about ahorizontal axis to and from a gauging position in which it engages thesaid surface, a spring for holding said swinging finger in contact withthe surface to be gauged, means for rotating the article relative tosaid unit, and electro-responsive means operative in response to theswinging movement of said swinging finger to intion a, carriage, meansfor rotating the carriage about a vertical axis, a plurality of gaugingunits mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith, means for bringingarticles to be gauged in succession to said gauging units, means forconveying the articles away from said units in a predetermined path,electro-responsive means for separating defective articles from theothers, electrical control systems individual to said gauging units andeach comprising a series of switches mounted on the carriage, stationarycams arranged to operate said switches, and means controlled thereby foreffecting the operation of said segregating means.

6. Article gauging apparatus comprising in combination a holder for anarticle to be gauged, means for rotating said holder and an articlethereon, a gauging unit positioned above said holder, a support, andmeans by which the gauglng unit is suspended from said support, said anpending means constructed to permit bodily movement of the gauging unitlaterally in any direction without tilting movement and holding itagainst rotative movement.

'1. Gauging apparatus comprising in combina. tion a holder for articlesto be gauged, means for rotating the holder and an article thereon, agauging unit positioned above said holder, a support spaced above thegauging unit, suspending means by which the gauging unit is suspendedfrom said support, means for eiiecting relative vertical movement of thesaid holder and gauging unit for bringing an article on said holder intogauging position, said suspending means including a vertically disposedrod, means providing a universal joint connection between the upper endof the rod and said support, and a universal joint connection betweenthe lower end of the dicate surfaces extending outside of predeterminedgauge limits.

5. Gauging apparatus comprising in combinarod and the gauging unit, saidconnections permitting swinging movement of the rod in any directionwhile preventing rotative movement of the gauging unit, therebypermitting the gauging unit to be centered on the article to be gauged.

8. Gauging apparatus comprising in combina-.

tion a holder for articles to be gauged, a gauging unit positioned abovesaid holder, a support spaced above the gauging unit, suspending means;

by which the gauging unit is suspended from said support, means foreffecting relative vertical movement of the said holder and gauging unitfor bringing an article on said holder into gauging position, saidsuspending means including a vertically disposed rod, means providing auni, versal joint connection between the upper end oi the rod and saidsupport, and a universal joint connection between the lower end of therod and the gauging unit, said connections permitting swinging movementor the rod in any direction while preventing rotativemovement of thegauging unit, thereby permitting the gauging unit to be centered on thearticle to be gauged, said rod including separate sections relativelymovable lengthwise, thereby permitting the gauging unit to be lifted fora limited distance relative to the support from which it is suspendedfor transferring the weight of the lifting unit to the article to begauged.

9. Gauging apparatus comprising in combination a gauging unit, a supportspaced above said unit, means by which the gauging unit is suspendedfrom the support, said means including a vertically disposed rod, anduniversal joints connecting the upper and lower ends of said rodrespectively to said support and the gauging unit, each of saiduniversal joints comprising horilontal pivots, said rod includingtelescopic parts having a slip joint connection.

10. Apparatus for gauging round surfaces of articles, comprising asupport for the articles,

a gauging head positioned directly above the support, means forrelatively moving saidsupport and head vertically toward each other forbringing a said article into gauging position, horizontally rotatingrolls carried by said head and arranged to engage the said surface ofthe article when the latter is centered relative to a vertical axis oirotation, means for eirecting a relative roand electroresponsiveindicating means in said circuit.

ELLIOTT R. OWENS.

